ISACA’s COBIT framework is celebrating three decades – and counting – of business impact.
This month marks the 30th anniversary for the COBIT framework, known worldwide for helping organizations optimize their enterprise I&T governance. As noted in an article detailing COBIT’s history that was part of ISACA’s 50th anniversary commemoration in 2019, “In 1996, ISACA had a big dream: to launch a new framework, then called COBiT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology). Its goal was to help organizations of all sizes, and in all industries, govern and manage their information and technology.
“CobiT is going to totally change how IS professionals work,” ISACA proclaimed on its website in 1996. “Years of exhaustive worldwide research has culminated in a revolutionary model that is changing the way IT control professionals approach their job by clearly linking information technology and control practices. CobiT consolidates and harmonizes standards from 18 dissimilar, prominent global sources into a critical resource for Management, Users, and IS Auditors.”
The original COBIT was delivered to users on diskette. Since then, COBIT has evolved with the business technology landscape, both in format and content.
“Initially, COBIT was designed solely for IT auditors – but even at the time, the association planned to enhance the framework in phases,” according to the article. “In 1998, COBIT 2 provided additional guidance on IT controls. COBIT 3 was released as a management framework in 2000. COBIT 4 in 2005 was a full-fledged IT governance framework. … COBIT 5, launched in 2012 as a comprehensive framework of globally accepted practices, analytical tools and models, included enhancements to facilitate the alignment of overall enterprise strategy with IT strategy.”
COBIT is used worldwide to support users as they align I&T governance with strategic objectives, manage rapidly evolving technology risk and unify compliance obligations across a growing range of contexts. With over one million publication downloads and counting, COBIT continues to provide an industry-leading, customizable governance system.
As we look back on 30 years of growth, we also look forward to COBIT's future! Practitioners can continue to sharpen their skills with resources like ISACA's guide to Leveraging COBIT for Effective AI System Governance. Additionally, an update to COBIT is planned for later this year, with much of the content to be delivered digitally. A flexible and customizable assessment module is being added to help practitioners identify gaps in their governance and management practices as well as to hone in on areas that need the most improvement within the context of an enterprise.
Find more COBIT resources here, and celebrate COBIT’s 30th anniversary on social media this year by using hashtag #COBIT30 with your posts.